1. USA—The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in early 2016 that sentencing juveniles to life with no chance for parole is unconstitutional. The states with the highest juvenile lifers were Pennsylvania, Michigan and Louisiana. As of mid-September, The Advocate reports that Pennsylvania had 530 juvenile lifers affected by the decision—375 were resentenced and 150 were paroled. Michigan’s juvenile population was 360. One-hundred- twenty were resentenced. Fifty were paroled. Louisiana had 302 juvenile lifers affected—218 were resentenced and 23 were … [Read more...] about NEWS BRIEFS: November 2018
New Mexico’s death row
Cloud of capital punishment lingers in New Mexico
The only two inmates remaining on New Mexico’s death row are fighting to have their death sentences overturned by the state Supreme Court. The appeal claims that their sentences were arbitrary because worse crimes did not draw a death sentence. New Mexico repealed capital punishment in 2009, but death sentences were not commuted for Robert Fry and Timothy Allen, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Gov. Bill Richardson signed the repeal without commuting their sentences. The state Supreme Court did agree to consider appeals of death … [Read more...] about Cloud of capital punishment lingers in New Mexico